March 26, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I imagine that it was a bright, sunny, and glorious day. One of those picture perfect days when Jesus was mounted upon a donkey, riding into Jerusalem with a massive crowd exalting Him. Yet it would be this very week that He would be betrayed by the same people and face an agonizing crucifixion. The King of Kings entered into His fate and purpose for which He came into the world with great meekness and mercy. His entering into the world also was of the same manner: born to ordinary citizens in a place unfamiliar to the glamorous and powerful. Yet as Jesus enters into Jerusalem, the crowd rejoices greatly, with an unrestrainable acknowledgment of His majesty. It was as Prophet Zechariah spoke: “… Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah enables us to see the humble image of how Jesus would choose to enter into His fate and bring salvation to all men. The donkey was an intentional choice whose symbolism speaks to us here. During that time period, whereas horses signified wars and rulership, donkeys represented peace. Jesus’ such entry was symbolizing the peace that He had come to restore unto mankind. He had not come in the terms as men would imagine, conquering and dividing; rather, He came to restore. Furthermore, His entry on a donkey symbolized how He had come not to be served as other kings, but to serve—even the least forgotten of people.

His humble acceptance of His fate would offer freedom from oppression for all of humanity. The oppression from sin, unhealthy emotions, addictions, and ultimately, all spiritual oppression would no longer have power. So during this Passion Week, let us meditate upon the willingness of our Savior, who, without reproach, entered into His purpose to bring salvation and freedom to us. As we think upon this truth, we will realize how we too are able to enter into our daily purpose with meekness and without reserve to serve people as Jesus did. We do not need to enter in on horses, but on a mere donkey—as Jesus did—extending the world a power that is expressed through humility and loving service.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You that Jesus eagerly embraced His purpose here on earth, in order that I would be restored to be able to understand mine. Thank You that I can face every day with great joy, to serve the ones around me with the same meekness and merciful heart that Jesus had. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit today to be able to walk this out. Thank you! Amen.

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 10:32-45: Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Questions to consider:

Why is meekness an attribute needed to serve God’s purpose?

What is one habit that you can develop that will help you to embrace God’s purpose for you daily?

Are you serving the ones whom God has placed in your life? If not, what is one thing you can do in order to serve as Jesus came to serve?

Notes

In Matthew 5:5, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is not passivity, as one would think; rather, it is where a person is able to bring themselves under control in order to serve another—in our case, to serve God’s purposes. It is a strength, not a weakness, that allows God’s purpose to be established on the earth.

Habits take time to develop and should be revisited daily in order not to neglect or forget the goal. Some say habits take 28-40 days for it to become a lifestyle.

We are all called to serve another. Every person that God has placed in our lives are meant to be loved by us in one way or another, to one measure or another. Consider whether you may be seeking more to receive than to give. Consider how you can switch that to be the giver and not the one seeking to receive. In Luke 6:38, it says that when we give, it will be given unto us. True satisfaction is in the giving.

Bible Reading for today: Judges 21

Evening Reflection

In light of our reflection this morning on entering into everyday with the meekness of heart to serve God’s purpose and to serve those around you, how did you fare today in walking out this devotional?